—ACTION ALERT—
AMENDED GROWLER EIS FROM U.S. NAVY
In a bizarre and unusual move the Navy has sent its Draft “Amended Analysis” of the Growler EIS to the Mayor of Coupeville instead of COER’s attorneys. COER & SDA are reviewing all information received today – thanks to Mayor Hughes for alerting us!
Here is the link for your review & comment:
https://www.nepa.navy.mil/
NAVY PLANS JUST TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS (Coupeville and Oak Harbor)
AND A TOO-SHORT COMMENT PERIOD (see below)
NEEDED ASAP —– CALLS NEEDED TO:
- Ask for a 1-month extension of comment period (till May 28)
- Add Navy public meetings in the San Juans & Port Townsend
WASHINGTON DC. CALL NUMBERS:
- Sen. Cantwell 202) 224-3441
- Sen. Murray (202) 224-2621
- Rep. Larsen (202) 225-2605
- Rep. Adam Smith (202) 225-8901
- Rep Emily Randall (202) 225-5916
- Rep. Kim Schrier 202) 225-7761
- Rep. DelBene (202) 225-6311
- Rep. Marilyn Strickland (202) 225-9740
NEXT:
COER & SDA will provide a written analysis of the Amended EIS ASAP to help with comments (Please review the Amended EIS but hold comments until after our organizations have put together talking points)
COER & SDA will set up a joint virtual info meeting – Stay Posted for that blast to follow.
MORE of what you need to know…….
A paper copy of the Draft Amended Analysis may be reviewed at 22 public libraries in the northern Puget Sound region. The full list of libraries and corresponding addresses may be found at the project website: https://www.nepa.
The Department of the Navy has prepared Draft Amended Analysis to the 2018 Final Environmental Impact Statement and 2019 Record of Decision for EA-18G Growler Airfield Operations at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Complex, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the orders of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
The Navy has announced two in-person public meetings in the form of an open house to inform the public about the contents of the Draft Amended Analysis, answer questions, and provide the opportunity to submit official written comments. In-person meetings are scheduled as follows:
PLEASE ATTEND
- Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PDT
Oak Harbor Elks Lodge, 155 NE Ernst Street, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
- Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PDT
Whidbey Island Nordic Lodge Hall, 63 Jacobs Road, Coupeville, WA 98239
Additionally, the Navy will host one virtual meeting featuring an informational presentation and will address questions submitted in advance. Questions can be submitted to the Navy for consideration in advance via the following email address: growler_amended_analysis@us.
The virtual meeting will be broadcast on the project website on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. PDT. After this initial broadcast, a recording of the virtual meeting will be posted to the project website.
Th Navy’s Draft Amended Analysis (1) updates greenhouse gas emissions calculations and explains the basis for those calculations; (2) clarifies and expands on the analysis of species-specific impacts on birds; (3) refines the analysis of the impact of increased operations on childhood learning and attempts to quantify the degree of impact to the extent supported by the best available science; and (4) reassesses whether relocating some or all of the Growler community to Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro is a reasonable alternative and provides a fuller explanation of the Navy’s reasoning for eliminating the alternative from detailed study.
Thanks for Taking this ACTION with us!
Hello. It’s July 29, 2025 and we are having constant Growler flybys until after midnight. We live in Greenbank and are not even on the flight path! We can’t sleep. What’s going on?